Prayers 5 Easter Yr A

P: God of saints and martyrs: Today we praise and thank you for the life and faith of Stephen. He boldly preached the Good News and, while dying a martyr’s death, he did not seek vengeance against his executioners. Rather, he prayed that their sin not be held against them. May we be inspired by Stephen’s example to forgive our enemies. Christ our risen Saviour: C: Have mercy and hear our prayer.
P: God our Refuge and Fortress: You are like a rock giving us strength and protection. Our times are in your hands; and we ask you to deliver your people from the hand of their enemies and persecutors. Shine your face upon your servants; save them in your steadfast love. Christ our risen Saviour: C: Have mercy and hear our prayer.
P: Christ our Head and Cornerstone, Chosen and Precious: We your people are like living stones, built into a spiritual house. We give you praise and thanks that, by your all-sufficient grace, you have made us a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that we may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called us out of darkness into his marvellous light. Christ our risen Saviour: C: Have mercy and hear our prayer.
P: Jesus the Way, the Truth, and the Life: We are grateful that through you we come to the Father’s house. You have given us the promise that whatever we ask in your name, you will do it. Grant us a deeper faith to trust in you and this promise; that your redeeming grace may prevail among us and throughout the world. Christ our risen Saviour: C: Have mercy and hear our prayer.
(Additional prayers may be included here, ending with: Christ our risen Saviour: C: Have mercy and hear our prayer.)
P: God of Israel and the Gentiles: We pray for all who deeply long and work for peace and justice in Israel, Palestine, and other Middle East countries, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Canada; bless and prosper their endeavours. Christ our risen Saviour: C: Have mercy and hear our prayer.
P: All of these and other prayers that serve your holy will and purposes we pray in the name of Jesus our Risen Saviour. ALL: AMEN.

Related

About dimlampI am, among other things, a sojourner, a sinner-saint, a baptized, life-long learner and follower of Jesus, and Lutheran pastor. Dim Lamp: dimlamp.wordpress.com
gwh photos: gwhphotos.wordpress.com